The sophomore defender from Boston University isn’t giving away too much on his future, but there’s evidence to suggest he’ll ink a deal when his NCAA year is complete
You can easily excuse him for that. He’s got more pressing matters at hand, and you can appreciate him also not wanting to cause a ruckus in the news all on his own.
The 6-foot-1, 191-pound right-shot defenceman from Sweden, who was Vancouver’s first-round pick (No. 11 overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft, is in the midst of his sophomore season with the Boston University Terriers.
The Terriers have made it to the NCAA Frozen Four in each of the past two seasons. They are currently ranked No. 8 nationally, and they have a showdown Monday with the No. 1 Boston College Eagles at TD Garden in the final of the Beanpot, the 73-year-old tournament for the major collegiate teams in the Boston area.
“I don’t really look that far ahead,” Willander explained after Terrier practice earlier this week when asked about his plans regarding the Canucks. “I feel like the only thing I can focus on is getting better every day and preparing myself for whatever is coming next. I try not to look too far, and focus on the next practice and the next game.
“I know it’s a boring answer, but I feel like it’s what’s going to work best for me in the long run. I’m just trying to take it day by day, week by week.”
Swedes don’t traditionally come to the NCAA. According to Elite Prospects, there are 59 of them playing on the 60 teams at the Div. I level this season, compared to 1,134 Americans and 532 Canadians. When asked about his decision to go that route, Willander had hockey related reasons, which would seem to bode well for Canuck fans hoping he’s in the Vancouver system sooner than later.
On Friday, Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK TV’s Donnie and Dhali did say on a radio hit on Sportsnet 650 that he expects Willander to sign with the Canucks when the Boston University season is complete. The Frozen Four is slated for April 10-12 in St. Louis.
“Young players face that awkward time in their careers in Europe when you’re kind of in between the junior and senior teams,” Willander said, pointing to when up and comers abroad often shuttle between different levels during a season. “I didn’t want to find myself in that middle ground where I wasn’t a part of either of them. I wanted to make sure I was in a position where I was always playing a lot. It’s turned out to be good.”
Mike Komisarek, who’s part of the Canucks player development staff, is Willander’s main point person with the team currently. Komisarek, 43, was a 6-foot-4, 235-pound right-shot defenceman drafted No. 7 overall in 2001 by the Montreal Canadiens out of the University of Michigan, so there’s a lot of common ground.
“We’ve talked a lot about having that 200-foot game … being able to be trusted on the ice and constantly making good decisions,” Willander said of his work with Komisarek.
“He’s fantastic, a phenomenal guy. I think both as a someone who gives you advice as a hockey player — having that background of having gone to college and now working in the pros — and also as a person, too. I feel that he’s very easy to talk to and just a great guy overall.”
Willander put up four goals and 25 points in 38 games last season with the Terriers. He has two goals and 15 points in 25 games so far this season.
Boston University started this campaign at No. 3 in the national rankings. They had some struggles early, but have been trending in the right direction in recent weeks and carry a 15-10-1 overall record into a meeting Monday with Boston College, who are 21-4-1 overall.
He tagged Monday’s matchup as “one of the biggest games we’re going to play this season,” adding that it’s a “good team and a good building, so I think we’re going to have a lot of fun.”
“We’re a pretty young team, so there were a lot of places to learn, and I think that’s where we kind of had a slow start,” Willander said. “But I think most of the guys are pretty fast learners. I think we’re a team that can play well in those big games where there’s a lot of pressure. I think we play our game better in those types of situations. I think that really helps when you want to win championships.”
Willander also played in the world juniors for a second straight time this season and was one of Sweden’s best players. He totalled two goals and five points in the seven games in Ottawa.
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